Farm406

31 farm406 Fifteen-year-old Courtney Frank of the Treasure State 4-H Club and her 14-year-old sister, Kailey, have been successfully showing goats for seven years. "I love bonding with the goats and showing them," says Courtney. "It takes a lot of hard work." Kailey agrees. "You have to shave them about three weeks before the shows, wash and blanket them and trim their hooves," she explains. The Frank family has been raising goats for 10 years on their Standing On The Rock Ranch near Missoula. Over the years, they have had Alpine/Nubian and Toggenburg goats for milk production and Boer goats for meat. The Franks consume what they raise – goat milk and meat. "Goat milk is good for people who are lactose intolerant," Stephanie explains. "Different breeds have slightly different flavored milk and meat." While her daughters raise their own breeds, LaMancha, Nubian and Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats, Stephanie says the family's goat business is primarily focused on serving the meat market and being competitive in the show ring. "Ninety percent of our goats are Boer meat goats," she explains. "We breed for strong, healthy, fast growing Boer goats with meat mass in the neck, shoulders and hind quarters and strong frames to pack it." oats have been gaining popularity in the Montana agriculture industry over the past several years with increasing numbers in the show ring, as well as the sale ring. G The Frank family (from left) Pumped Up Twist boer goat, Perry, Stephane, Kailey and Courtney Frank, have been in the goat breeding and showing business for the past 10 years in the Missoula, Mont., area. Photo by Ali Spoon

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